Larry Kluck received the The Wayne Smith Metal at the Friendship Force of Lincoln’s annual meeting.

Kluck has served a wide variety of leadership roles in the Friendship Force of Lincoln. He is a charter member of the club that was founded in 1981. In his 35-year membership he has been President for several two-year terms and served as club Treasurer for countless years. He also has volunteered as treasurer for many inbound and outbound exchanges throughout the years. He has been an outbound Exchange Director for four international and one domestic exchange. In addition, he has served as Exchange Director for two inbound International exchanges.

Larry has set high standards in both management and administration of exchanges. He strongly supports and exhibits the Friendship Force conviction that we can create a world of friends that can become a world of peace. As a result he has helped the club grow many friendships around the world. His willingness to pitch in where needed in our club has been exceptional. Larry was administrative treasurer for the innovative theme exchange of “Taming A Harsh Land” which four clubs in the Midwest carried out in 2013.

Larry’s devotion to the ideals of The Friendship Force and his exceptional leadership in promoting the Friendship Force mission has resulted in him being a worthy recipient of the Wayne Smith Metal.

Friendship Force International was founded in 1977 by Wayne Smith and was announced on March 1, 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. It is affiliated with no religious or political organizations and is non-profit. There are over 350 clubs around the world and the International Offices are located in Atlanta, Georgia.

By coming together at the personal level, Friendship Force participants get to know people whose lives are different from their own. An open mind and respect for other cultures become the foundations of friendships that often last a lifetime.

We believe every friendship formed across the barriers of nationality, language, religion or politics makes the world a better place.

The Regional meeting was held in Davenport, Iowa the end of May. President Joanna Rogers and Vice President Barb Ridder acted as delegates along with 4 other members from the Lincoln club. The President’s report will be published in the next issue of the Passport.

The Lincoln-Guadeloupe Exchange was delayed due to the February 2nd blizzard. Twelve ambassadors from Lincoln, 3 from Ottawa, and 2 from Milwaukee met in Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe on Friday in time for the scheduled Welcome Party.

Saturday was Heritage Day. Ambassadors and their hosts toured the new Memorial ACTe museum. The museum is an expression and memory of the slave trade and slavery and was well done in a former sugar factory. A luncheon of typical slave food followed.

On Monday everyone toured by bus to Basse Terre, the mountainous island. We visited the Botanical Garden, enjoyed lunch on a lovely beach, and saw where the British television show, “Death in Paradise” is filmed.

Sunday and Tuesday were Family Days. Many hosts took their guests to Mardi Gras parades. Tuesday evening ambassadors treated their hosts to a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

One of the highlights of the exchange was the Farewell Dinner. Everyone wore black and white to celebrate the end of Carnival. There was a buffet dinner and dancing well into the night.

The Lincoln ambassadors said good-bye to the others and flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Thursday for four nights to fun and relaxation.

The Friendship Force clubs of Greater Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas, and Oklahoma were awarded the U.S. Club of the Year at the World Conference of Friendship Force International in New Orleans, November 2013, in recognition of the four clubs who hosted the 17 day Themed Exchange, “Taming a Harsh Land: Pioneers, Cowboys, Indians, and Culture of American’s Great Plains.”